Profit Motive

December 28, 2001

Mitch Lipka wrote about the consolidation of cemeteries and funeral homes. In his conclusion, he cited SCI's stated corporate objectives. The third objective related to generating value for the stakeholders through sound fiscal management and corporate development. Mitch concluded that this third objective was responsible for the problems the consolidators have encountered.

I have over 25 years' experience in the cemetery and funeral industries. I have worked for private companies and SCI, and I have been an owner. Every entity has profit as an objective unless it is a true not-for-profit.

In fairness, the Tribune Company's corporate objectives/mission statement should also be printed. I feel it is safe to assume that one of those objectives deals with profits.